Toilet facility for a patient

ABSTRACT

A self contained toilet facility ( 10 ) for use with wheel chairs or beds and comprising a toilet bowl ( 12 ) having at least one inlet ( 25  or  26 ) connectable via a respective pump ( 48  or  47 ) to each of a patient cleansing liquid supply tank ( 18 ) and a bowl cleansing liquid supply tank ( 17 ) , and to a source of air flow ( 36 ). The bowl ( 12 ) also has a waste outlet ( 13 ) connected to a waste tank ( 19 ) via a mascerator ( 14 ) and respective pump ( 49 ) , the inflow of cleansing liquids to the bowl and outflow of waste from the bowl being controlled by a programmable control unit ( 37 ). The three tanks ( 17,18,19 ) are arranged side by side and are readily detachable from and connectable to conduits connected to the bowl and may colour coded to indicate the contents thereof

FIELD

This invention relates to the provision of a toilet facility that permits invalids or bed bound patients to attend to the elimination of body wastes without the necessity of being removed from the vehicle of confinement be it a bed, wheelchair or other structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hospital beds with toilet facilities are known. These beds aim to dignify the process by which bed ridden patients attend to the normal bodily functions whilst remaining in their beds. U.S. Pat. No. 3,922,735 discloses a hospital bed with a flushing toilet bowl arranged underneath the bed. The bed is provided with a cleaning water supply tank and waste tank and air drying system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,762 describes a bed with a removable section of mattress which slides laterally to expose a waste receiver, or toilet bowl mounted underneath the bed. The bowl may be raised for use and is connected to a domestic sewer or holding tank and to a water supply from a tank or pressurized domestic supply. U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,700 also discloses a hospital bed with a built-in toilet facility in which a centre portion of a mattress is removed. The waste receiver is in the form of a specially shaped disposable diaper funnel which is connectable to a waste disposal tank, a water supply cleaning the user and an air supply for drying the user.

The present invention provide a toilet facility for use with a bed or pushchair or other construction in which the toilet facility is automated, hygienic and is a self contained compact unit.

STATEMENTS OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided self contained toilet facility comprising a toilet bowl having at least one inlet connectable via respective pumps to each of a patient cleansing liquid supply tank and a bowl cleansing liquid supply tank, and to a source of air flow, the bowl also having a waste outlet connected to a waste tank via a mascerator and respective pump, the inflow of cleansing liquids to the bowl and outflow of waster from the bowl being controlled by a programmable control unit.

Preferably, the three tanks are arranged side by side and are readily detachable from and connectable to conduits connected to the bowl. The tanks may be colour coded to indicate the contents thereof.

The bowl may be provided with a removable splash guard which may also serve to direct the patient cleaning liquid and drying air flow. The bowl rim may be provided with an external flange extending outwardly from the rim. The flange provides a cleanable area around the bowl and supports a closure which overlies the bowl when not in use.

The patient cleaning liquid and air flow may be heated to approximately body temperature for patient comfort.

The control unit comprises a programmable microprocessor with memory which may be operable directly or via a remote handset. The control unit is programmed to operate the pumps, mascerator and air flow system in a pre-programmed sequence. The control unit may also be connected to respective sensors in the tanks to monitor various parameters such as liquid temperature, and liquid levels within the respective tanks.

The air flow system may be reversed so as to act as a odour extraction system from the bowl.

A second aspect of the present invention there is provided a hospital bed having a toilet facility according to a first aspect of the present invention.

The bed is provided with a mattress having a readily removable insert which is removed to reveal the bowl of the toilet facility and may be replaced to support the patient.

DETAILS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a end view of a toilet facility according to the present Invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the toilet facility shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the toilet bowl

FIG. 4 is a side view of a bed having a toilet facility as shown in FIGS. 1 & 2,

FIG. 5 is a section on the line A-A of the bed shown in FIG. 4

FIG. 6 an isometric view of the bed shown in FIGS. 4 & 5

FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing the control system for the toilet facility, and

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram for the control of the operation of the facility.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a toilet facility 10 comprising a ground standing base 11 supporting a toilet or waste collection bowl 12. The bowl 12 has a waste outlet 13 which is connected to a mascerator 14 also mounted on the stand 11. The bowl 12 is provide with a splash guard 15 to contain liquids within the bowl. The rim of the bowl 12 is surrounded by an externally projecting flange 16 which provides a cleanable are around bowl 12 and a support area as will be described later.

The toilet facility 10 includes three liquid tanks or reservoirs 17,18,19 which are arranged side-by side in a linear array. The tanks comprise a bowl cleaning tank 17 housing a toilet cleaning fluid, a patient cleaning tank 18 holding basically water to which disinfectant or other anti bacterial agent may be added, and a waste collection tank 19. The tanks may be colour coded to reflect their contents. The bowl cleaning tank 17 and patient cleaning tank 18 are connected via conduits 23,24 respectively to a cleaning delivery unit 22 mounted on the support 11. The cleaning delivery unit 22 is connected by internal passageways to inlets 25 for the bowl 12 and inlet 26 for the patient cleaning liquid. There may be a plurality of inlets 25 spaced around the bowl and in the present example, three bowl cleaning inlets 25. The waste tank 19 is connected to the macerator 14 via a larger diameter pipe 21.

The tanks 17-19 may each be provided with a closure 28 for filling or emptying said tanks. The conduits 23 and 24 are connected to their respective tanks 17 & 18 by easily dis-connectable couplings 31 & 32. Similarly the waste tank 19 is also connected to the pipe 21 by an easily dis-connectable coupling 33. Movement of the tanks when full is facilitated by wheels 34 and a handle 35.

An air dryer/extractor unit 36 is housed on the side of the base 11 adjacent the macerator 14. The air dryer may be connected to the delivery unit 22 to deliver drying air to the bowl and/or splash guard 15.

The operation of the toilet facility is controlled by a control unit 37 also housed on the base 11. With reference to FIG. 7, the control unit 37 includes a programmable microprocessor 38 with memory and is operable directly via a keypad 39 or via a remote handset 45. The control unit 37 is connected to various sensors for example liquid level sensors 41,42,43 in the tanks 17,18, 19 respectively, and a water temperature sensor 44 in the patient cleaning liquid tank. The unit 37 is also connected to the air dryer unit 36 and to pumps 47,48, for the pumping of bowl cleaning liquid and patient cleaning liquid to the bowl 12 and a pump 49 for the removal of waste from the maserator 14 to the waste tank 19. The pumps 47 & 48 may be housed in the tanks 17 & 18 respectively and the pump 49 may be housed in the waste tank 19 or immediately downstream of the mascerator. The control unit 37 is also connected to a heater 50 in the tank 18 for maintenance of the patient cleaning fluid at room temperature or body temperature.

The air dryer unit 36 may be a dual purpose air blower and extractor for the supply of air to and removal of air from the bowl 12 and to this end is connected to the control unit 37. If in the alternative, the air dryer 36 is simply to supply drying air to the bowl 12, then a separate air extractor 46 may be connected to the control unit 37.

The micro processor 38 of control unit 37 is pre-programmed with a series of operational steps an example of which is illustrated in the flow chart shown in FIG. 8. The operation will be initiated by a “Use” command 51 in-put via the keypad 39 or remote handset 45. After initiation, the control unit operates the air extractor 36/46 in step 52 to remove odours, and simultaneously at step 53 checks the fluid levels in the tanks 17-19 through the sensors 41-43. The temperature of the patient cleaning liquid in tank 18 is then checked at step 54 via sensor 44 and if the liquid temperature is too cold the control unit 37 via step 55 causes the heater 50 to operated and raise the temperature to the desired level.

Only when these parameters have been satisfied will the next operations be permitted. If the conditions for further use are not satisfied a warning is given on the keypad 39 or handset 45 in a suitable manner e.g. flashing light, audible buzzing etc..

After use of the toilet facility, a second command may be input at step 61 via the keypad or handset. The control unit 37 then initiates the patient wash at step 62 and controls the pump 48 at step 63 to deliver a measured volume of wash, and at step 64 delivers the patient wash liquid to clean the patient. After the patient wash in step 64, the air dryer 36 is activated at step 65 and simultaneously the bowl wash is activated at step 66 and the pump 47 is controlled at step 67 to deliver a measured volume of toilet bowl cleaner which is delivered to the bowl at step 68. The waste material is flushed into the mascerator 14 which is operated at step 69 with the waste then being pumped into the storage tank at step 70. The air extraction system 36/46 may then be switched off at step 71.

The operational steps may be varied as is desired. For example a facility for short intermittent flushes for the removal of waste could be programmed into the control unit 37 allowing smaller waste deposits to be removed without the need for a main flush.

With reference now to FIGS. 4-6, there is shown a hospital bed 100 provided with a toilet facility 10 according to the present invention. The bed 110 supports a mattress 111 and both bed and mattress have been modified to accommodate the., toilet facility 10 which is located below the bed 110 with the bowl 12 and cleanable flange 16 being substantially in alignment with the support surface of the bed. The bowl 12 and flange 16 are located in a recess or aperture 113 in the mattress and are covered by a padded removable insert 114 when not in use.

The tanks 17,18,19 are easily removed and replaced from one side of the bed with minimum disruption to the patient. 

1. A self contained toilet facility comprising a toilet bowl having at least one inlet connectable via respective pumps to each of a patient cleansing liquid supply tank and a bowl cleansing liquid supply tank, and to a source of air flow, the bowl also having a waste outlet connected to a waste tank via a mascerator and respective pump, the inflow of cleansing liquids to the bowl and outflow of waste from the bowl being controlled by a programmable control unit.
 2. A facility as claimed in claim 1 wherein the three tanks are arranged side by side and are readily detachable from and connectable to conduits connected to the bowl.
 3. A facility as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tanks are colour coded to indicate the contents thereof.
 4. A facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bowl is provided with a removable splash guard which may also serve to direct the cleaning liquid onto a user and/or drying air flow onto said user.
 5. A facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bowl rim has an external flange extending outwardly from the rim to provide a cleanable area around the bowl and support a closure which overlies the bowl when not in use.
 6. A facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein heaters are provided for heating the patient cleaning liquid and air flow to approximately body temperature for user comfort.
 7. A facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit has a programmable microprocessor with memory and is operable by direct command input through a keypad and/ or via a remote handset command input.
 8. A facility as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control unit is programmed to operate the pumps, mascerator and air flow system in a pre-programmed sequence.
 9. A facility as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit is also connected to respective sensors in the tanks to monitor various parameters such as liquid temperature, liquid levels within the respective tanks.
 10. A facility as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air flow system is reversible so as to act as an a odour extraction system from the bowl.
 11. A bed for a bed-ridden patient and including a toilet facility as claimed in claim
 1. 12. A bed as claimed in claim 11 where the bed is provided with a mattress having a readily removable portion which can be removed to reveal the bowl of the toilet facility. 